ALPERN AT LARGE-Quite a few years ago, I came to the conclusion that in any complicated, controversial political debate, all sides had a tendency to really stink. Quite a few years ago, I came to the conclusion that those really driven for political power had a tendency to be rather unlikeable people who thought of themselves as higher life forms.
And quite a few years ago, I came to the conclusion that when one political party had overwhelming majority rule, the denizens of that party became oblivious and ignorant as to where the minority party was coming from...including the inherent similarities that both sides of the political spectrum share.
As a Republican married to a Democrat, and who (like my wife) is insistent on my children learning both sides of any political issue, it's not hard to see those similarities...because both political parties are blatantly cursed with their share of losers...yet blessed with their own pathways of supporting the ordinary American (even if the other side refuses to acknowledge the veracity of the other side's pathway).
The GOP has nothing to do with the philanderings and blunderings of former Mayors Villaraigosa and Filner, and the Democratic Party has nothing to do with the philanderings and blunderings of former Governor Schwarzeneggar. All sides couldn't wait to have them go, and only the ignorant would pine for a Governor Villaraigosa to replace Jerry Brown.
Much has been said about the LAUSD's decision to purchase $1 billion of overpriced iPads for its students from facility construction/upkeep funds, and it's doubtful that Democratic or Republican Angelenos favor that ill-fated decision--one that is likely to prevent any future funding for new LAUSD taxes or bond measures.
Much has been said about the costly series of raises for LA City employees, and former Mayor Villaraigosa's inane suggestion that City employees give up their legally-guaranteed 5.5% raise, but while the law is the law, the demand that City leadership put a hold on any new raises (25% since 2007!) is probably bipartisan in nature.
Much has been said about "California being no Detroit", but while Garden Grove HR director and treasurer John Clark makes a few great points about both political sides needing to back off their rigid ideological points, the concern about pension reform will take front and center attention in our November elections--thanks to a ballot measure promoted by Democrat San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed.
Much has been said about the so-called 1%, but (contrary to popular opinion) most of that economic group (earning more than $500,000 annually) 41% of that group identifies themselves as independents, with a similar number of Republicans (33%) and Democrats (26%) balancing out the rest, according to Gallup.
Much has been said about the differing ideologies of the 1% versus the mainstream, yet the same percentages of both groups describe themselves as moderate (approximately 40% conservative, 35-40% moderate and 20% liberal). Sorry, haters, but behind the loudest screaming voices, we're pretty much all the same (imagine that...we're all human!).
Much has been said about how the GOP favors the wealthy over the ordinary American, but yet both Republican/conservative and Democratic/liberal Americans appear to agree with uber-liberal economist Michael Hiltzik of the LA Times that Wall Street execs need prosecution bigtime, and that there is concern to be had by BOTH Presidents Bush and Obama's helping out the 1% to the detriment of the rest of us.
So...the fact remains that conservative, even Christian, sentiment goes against the wealthy underpaying the lower-wage workers, and the fact remains that liberal, even secular, sentiment, goes against the notion of public sector unions backing political electeds and overpaying otherwise-vital public sector workers to the point where they are no longer affordable, and to the point where the electorate starts rebelling.
The fact remains that taxes must be spent well--not just more, or less--as the greatest parameter of "how much taxes" we should all have.
The fact remains that corporate and union leadership have both been hellishly self-serving, to the detriment of ordinary Americans...and if you wanted either Mitt Romney or Barack Obama to fight for the average, ordinary American then you're going to be seriously disappointed (unless you're a partisan suckup that'll believe anything that's shoved down your gullet).
Whether it's health care, transportation, a balanced budget, immigration policy, etc., both political parties have their serious and painfully-self-serving shortcomings.
So perhaps it's to be noted that President George W. Bush was not invited to either of the last two Republican presidential conventions, and perhaps it's to be noted that Democratic Mayor Garcetti was elected with the support of independents, liberals and conservatives alike with a message to limit-set with public sector unions like the IBEW.
In the end, perhaps we DO as a country have a consolidated future, with moderation and a true representation of the little guy, the ordinary working American, being in order.
Unfortunately, it'll take a few years to get past the Democratic and Republican dividers for us to get back to a one-nation model rather than the two-party nation we currently have.
But if we focus on the truth...and not the hype...we'll discover that all human beings, regardless of party affiliation, have a lot more in common than we are otherwise led to believe.
(Ken Alpern is a Westside Village Zone Director and Boardmember of the Mar Vista Community Council (MVCC), previously co-chaired its Planning and Outreach Committees, and currently is Co-Chair of its MVCC Transportation/Infrastructure Committee. He is co-chair of the CD11 Transportation Advisory Committee and chairs the nonprofit Transit Coalition, and can be reached at [email protected] This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .... He also co-chairs the grassroots Friends of the Green Line at www.fogl.us . The views expressed in this article are solely those of Mr. Alpern.)
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 12 Issue 1
Pub: Jan 3, 2014
